Automobile mud-catch.



H. WIRZ.

AUTOMOBiLE MUD CATCH APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8. 1915.

Patented J 11116 20, 1916.

HERMANN VVIRZ, OF ERLENBACI-I, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HEINRICH FLAD, OF ERLENBACH, SWITZERLAND.

AUTOMOBILE MUD-CATCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMANN lVIRz, a citizen of the Republic of Switzerland, rcsiding at Erlenbach, in the Canton of Zurich, Republic of Switzerland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Mud-Catches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, ref erence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which forms a part of this specification.

The present invention has for object to provide an improved automobile mud catch comprising a shield composed of resilient independent, metallic members secured to a bar and capable of giving way to all obstacles. This mud catch is very durable and can be mounted with facility to an automobile.

Some structures embodying my invention and illustrating the principles thereof are shown in the accompanying drawing and will be hereinafter fully described and re ferred to in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automobile to which two improved mud catches are applied. Fig. 2 is an end View and Fig. 3 a front elevation of my mud catch. Fig. 4 is an elevation and Fig. 5 a sectional view of parts of a modification of my mud catch. Fig. 6 is a plan of another modification and Fig. 7 shows a detail in section.

The mud catch essentially consists in a shield composed of a bar a carrying a series of depending pins b and of coiled springs c wound upon the pins 5 as close as possible. In Figs. 2 to 5 the springs 0 are not wound so close as they really are, in order to show the pins 6. The upper ends of the coiled springs c are a'Hixed to the set screws d holding the pins 7) in bores of the bar a.

The shield as described preferably assumes such a position in regard to the wheel, that the springs 0 are inclined outwardly and stand off the wheel. By this arrangement the springs may easily deflect outward when they strike upon a larger obstacle and deflecting of the springs toward the wheel will be avoided. In order to obtain such an inclined position of the shield the two extreme pins 6 are elongated at the Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 20, 1916:.

Application filed June 8, 1915.

Serial No. 32,937.

top, bent forward and connected one to the other by an arm 6 This arm 12 is aflixed to the hooked ends of a bow 76 whereby the shield assumes the inclined position shown in the Fig. 2.

In order to prevent that the shield swings too much toward the wheel and touches it, the last but one pin 5 at each end of the bar a. is extended at the top and bent toward the bow is. These abutments b strike upon the how 70 and thus limit the swinging of the shield toward the wheel.

The bow is freely hangs in a groove of a disk 0 secured to the hub g of the wheel by means of the usual nut 7. If the hub 51 of the wheel has a length as shown in Fig. 2, the upper portion of the shield is within the outer vertical plane of the wheel, so that the whole shield is brought very close to the wheel. The same position of the shield in regard to the wheel can be obtained in a longer hub, if the lower portions of the bow 7c are not bent outward, as shown in Fig. 2, or are bent inward. A structure of the shield suitable for very short hubs is shown in Figs. l and 5. In this structure the bar it has two pivots h at the ends journaled in bores of the curved ends of the bow 7c. The shield hangs vertically. In order to prevent swinging of the shield toward the wheel beyond this vertical position, the extreme pin 6 at each end of the bar a is extended at the top and bent laterally so as to strike upon the rear side of the bow Z1. Any desired inclined position of the shield may be obtained by bending the ends 5 of the extreme pins 7) in a corresponding manner in regard to the center plane of the shield.

In the structure shown by Fig. 6, which is a plan seen in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 2, two rows of springs 0 are used. These rows are so displaced, that the spaces between the springs of one of the rows are filled up by the springs of the other row, so that no mud can sprinkle outward.

In the structure shown by Fig. 7 a bow 75 is formed by a T-iron. The bridge of this iron covers the upper portion of the disk 0 and carries a small lubricator z to reduce the friction between the disk and the bow.

It may be preferred to arrange the f0remost springs in a more inclined position than the rear, in order to pass more easily obstacles and to facilitate swinging outward of the shield. In this case the foremost pins 7) simply may be placed obliquely to the pl-aneof the shield.

In new automobiles the nut 7 may have a groove to receive the bow is, so that no disk 0 will be necessary. Metallic hose or other small flexible tubes may be used instead of the coiled springs 0. Furthermore the spring members may be formed by a series of pins coaxially arranged and connected by sprmgs.

lVihat I claim is 1. An automobile mud catch having a shield composed of resilient, tnalcpendent, metallic members, a bar to which these members are fixed and means for support ing the said .shie'ld in such a way that the metallic members catch the mud lspnin kled outward :by the wheel.

A11 automobile mud catch haw-mg :a shield composed of mesilient, independent, metallic members, :a bar l3O which these members are ifixed, a .loow capable of a swinging movement in a vertical plane parallel to the wheel and having :hoolied ends and an arm secured to :the shield and ieoeeintrieailly placed to the plane of theshield in .onder ihO obtain an outward inclined position of the shield in the front vof the wheel, when the said arm is .aflixed to the hooked ends of the bow.

3. An automobile mud catch having a shield composed of resilient, lndependent, metallic members, a bar carrylng these members and a bow capable of a swinging movement in a vertical plane parallel to the wheel and having bores in which the said bar is journaled.

4. An automobile mud. catch having a. shield composed of closely coiled metallic sprmgs, a bar provided. with parallel depending pins upon which are wound the upper portions of the said springs and means for supporting the shield.

.55. An automobile mud catch having a shield composed of closely coiled metallic springs, .a bar prox 'ided with parallel depending pins upon which are wound the upper portions of :the said springs, one or more of these .pins being elongated and bent to form abutments and a bow capable of a swinging movement in a vertical plane parailel to .the wheel and of limiting the oscillations of the said abutments and by this of vthe .shield :toward the wheel.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERLMNN KVIRZ.

Witnesses:

HERMANN HUBER, CARL GUBLER.

cppies of this patent may be obtained. in fiweieen-ts each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' wosm iz n, 3 -11: 

